The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-02
ANARCHISTS WRITE LETTERS.
Gov. Oglesby Informed That They
Want No Mercy at His Hands.

NV OGlOoDy LtllOlluCd L Alebo AANJ
Want No Mercy at His Hands.
CHICAGO, Nov. 1--George Engel, Louis
Lingg and Adolph Fischer, of the group Of
death sentenced Anarchists, have written
open letters to Gov. Oglesby refusing any
Communication of sentence short of liberty,
asserting their innocence of the Haymarket
murder and declaring their unabated faith
in the principles Of anarchy
Fischer, VINO gave all three of the letters
to reporter, asked that they be printed
without change. Following is one of them:
Cook COUNTY JAIL, CHICAGO, Nov 1, 1887
An Omen Letter to M II. q. O0iesby Governor
Of the StGte Of Illinois;
DEAR SIR-I am aware that petitions are be,
ing circulated and signed by the general
public asking you to commute the sentence
of death which was inflicted upon mo
by the Criminal Court of this State. Anent
this action of the sympathizng and well-mean-
ing portion Of the people | solemnly declare it
has not my sanction. AS a man of honor, as
man OF conscience, and as man of principle
cannot accept mercy. am not guilty of the
charges in the indictment of murder. | am no
murderer, and cannot apologize for action Of
which know am innocent And should ask
mercy on account of my principles which
honestly believe to be true and noble. No,
am no hypocrite, and have, therefore, no ex-
cuses to offer with regard TO being an Anarchist
because the experiences of the past eighteen
months have only strengthened my conviction.
The question la Am | responsible for the
death of the policemen at the Haymarket, and
say no, unless you assent that every aboitiouist
could have been held responsible for
| could not ask or accept mercy" -"
without lowering myself in my selfestimaton.
If cannot obtain justice from the authorities
and be restored 10 my family, then / prefer that
the verdict be carried out as It stands. Every
informed person must l should think, admit
that the verdict is solely due to class hatred,
prejudice, inflaming of public opinion Of a ma
liccus newspaper fraternity, and desire on the
part of the privileged class to check the progress
i've labor movement. Interested parties,
Of course, deny this, but It is
nevertheless true, and am
sure that coming ayes will look upon our trial
conviction aud execution, as the people OF tho
nineteenth century regard the barbarities OF
past generations, as the outcome of the intol
erance aud prejudice against advanced ideas
History repeats itself. AS the powers that be
have at all times thought they could stem the
progressive tide by exterminating few kick
ers,' so do the ruling class of to-day
imagine they can put stop to the movement
Of labor emancipation by hanging n few of its
advocates. Progress in it's victorious march
has had to overcome many obstacles which
seemed invincbe, and many of its apostles have
died as martyrs. The obstacles which bar the
road of progress to-day seem to be invinclble,
too, but they will be overcome, nevertheless.
At all times when the condition of society has
become such that large portion OF the people
complained Of existing injustice, the ruling
classes have denied the truth OF
these complaints but have said
in question was due to the 'pernicious influence
of malicious agitators." To-day again some
people assert that the I'd agitators' are
the cause of immense dissatisfaction among the
working people. Who speak thus? Can you
not read Twill you not read the signs Of the
times? Do you not see that the clouds on the
social armament are thickenng2 Are you not.
for instance, aware that control of
industry and of of frauSnOrtat ion
is constantly concentrating in fewer
hands; that the monopoists, !. e., the sharks
among the capitalists, swallow the little ones
among us; that trusts, ''poos" and other
combinations are being formed in order to more
thoroughly and systematically fleece the people;
that under the present system, development
technical and mechanical, is from year to year
throwing more worMngmen on the wayside;
that in some parts of this great and fertile land
a majority of the farmers are obliged to mort
gage their homes IN order to satisfy the greed OF
monster corporations; that in short the rich are
constantly growing richer and the poor poorer
Yes, and do you not comprehend that all these
evils find their origin in the present institutions
of society. which allows one portion of the
human race TO build fortunes upon the mis-
fortunes of others to enslave their fellowmenY
Instead of trying to remedy these evils, and in
stead OF ascertaining just what the cause OF the
dissatisfaction is the ruling classes through their
mouth piece, the press pulpit etc, defame and
misrepressnt the characters. teachings and
motive Of the advocates of social reconstruction
ana Use Lne llIb anu CluD On bHonls anu IL bne
opportunity Is favorable send them TO the gal
lows and prisons viii this do any goods AS
an answer may as well quote the following
words with which Benjamin Franklin
closed his satirical essay, RULES for
Reducing a Great Empire TO n Small
One" which he dedicated TO the English
government in 1776. Suppose all their (the
"kickers) complaints TO be invented and pro.
NOTED by few factious demagoguee whom II
you could catch and hang would he quiet.
Catch and hang a few accordingly, and the
blood Of martyrs shall work miracles in favor of
your purpose" Ii. e.. your own ruin) SO say so
ciety may hang a number of the disciples of
progress who have disinterestedly served
the cause of the sons OF toll
which is the cause of humanity,
but their blood will work miracles in bringing
about the downfall of modern society and in
Fastening the birth of q new era Of civilization.
Magma est Ue,ttds ct pretaLebet.
ADoLPH FISCHER.
The other two letters are written in the
same strain, and bear evidence of having
been composed by the same hand. Engel's
letter was certainly not written by himself.
The body of the epistle is written in bold
free hand, while Engel's signature is con-
tracted and clumsy.